Helpful ideas for a smooth shipping process.
Whether you need to send out a purchased item to a customer or transport your products and jewelry display tools to an out-of-town event, jewelers must know the best techniques for jewelry shipping for a hitch-free process.
Online shopping has certainly grown in the past two years and you might have seen an increase in orders from your at-home customers. Whether you’re home-based yourself or running an omnichannel jewelry business, learning the tricks of the trade for jewelry shipping is definitely a skill you should know down pat.
Here are some tips to ensure a smooth shipping process for your merchandise.
1. Start by choosing the right packaging materials.
Different jewelry types come in different shapes, sizes, and designs, so it’s important to have different kinds of jewelry packaging on hand as well. Choose the ones that are intended for the jewelry they were made for (eg. ring boxes for rings). Likewise, it’s important to take into account proportions when matching packaging to the jewelry item. Small items such as earrings go inside small bags or boxes, while the larger ones to the appropriately-sized large containers.
Do look for packaging that has features that secure the jewelry item in place such as slots or clips. Remember also to add cushioning materials such as bubble wrap or foam peanuts to protect the order during transport.
If you’re sending your package to an event, such as a trade exhibit, jewelry display stands, and other tools for showcasing may be included in the contents. If that’s the case, choose an appropriately-sized carrier. To make their transport easier, go for devices that can be dismantled and easily put together on site.
2. Be discreet with your choice of jewelry packaging.
While it’s important to incorporate your shop’s branding into your packaging and marketing items, the rules are different for shipping.
Go for a non-descript shipping box/bag for you and your customer’s protection. Otherwise, you can also use your chosen courier’s standard packaging materials. Check also that the labels on the packaging material won’t contain information about the contents inside.
And speaking of courier…
3. Go for a trustworthy courier.
While there are plenty of delivery companies offering shipping services, it pays to be careful to avoid problems later on. It’s important to do research and to weigh your options rather than going for the first courier you find. You can ask fellow sellers about their experiences to see which ones are trustworthy. You can also lookup reviews online to see what past clients have to say about them. Keep your eyes peeled for news that talks about incidences of package theft or mishandling to avoid those who were involved in them.
It’s best to go for those that provide tracking information so that you and your recipients can rest easy by knowing where the package is currently in the supply chain. Most often, the same information could be accessed at the company’s website or app by providing the tracking code. Should problems arise such as missing or incomplete packages, the code will be used for investigation and resolution.
Alternatively, you could send your packages through the postal service and have it be placed under first-class registered mail. Under the service, you will also be provided with tracking information. If you go through this route, it’s still best to use non-descript boxes or bags as you would not want your packages to attract thieves. Meanwhile, drop boxes are not recommended as you could easily damage your package, plus for safety reasons, it’s best to see your package off yourself.
Whatever method you choose, make sure to share the provided tracking information with your package’s recipient for your protection and their peace of mind.
4. Ask for proof that your recipient has received your package.
Different courier services will have different systems in place to secure proof that a package was safely received. Signatures may be required upon receipt, while some may take pictures as proof during the delivery. Don’t hesitate to ask your courier about their procedures for this step of the shipping process. Always ask to have the recipient or a trusted representative to receive the delivery themselves—never go for curbside delivery as an option.
5. Get shipping insurance to cover possible loss or damages.
The sad fact is things can still go wrong in the process even if you’ve followed these rules outlined in the article. In life, always expect the unexpected so to ease your worries you must get insurance for your package. You can rest once you sign up for one as problems in shipping will be covered and expenses will be reimbursed. As always, read the terms and conditions to check that your needs are sufficiently covered.
Having the right business partners will ensure that you will feel secure in the shipping process for your jewelry merchandise. It all begins with choosing the right packages and containers for your products, and Nile Corp certainly has you covered in that aspect. Simply visit our site and browse the many packaging options for your business.
